Editor's note: Oklahoma's Stacey Dales, a Kodak All-American in 2000-01, will share a weekly diary with ESPN.com throughout the season.

Jan. 18, 2002

After a long Christmas break, it's kind of nice to get back to classes. I am one of those people who likes routine and structure, and that's what class offers me. There are times when I see class as sort of a release from everything else. It forces me to take my mind off basketball and concentrate on something else for a while. After a loss like we had to Iowa State, that's very important.

	Stacey Dales was the 2000-01 Big 12 Player of the Year.

Speaking of Iowa State -- the fact is we just didn't play well. I don't know what happened when we stepped onto that floor, but that was not our team out there. It also didn't help that ISU played a very good game of basketball. When I look back on this game, I think it will serve as a reminder to us how not to play.

I think that if there's a will within everyone to win, then winning shouldn't be hard. I think of our team as being on a mission, a mission to win games and rise all the way to the top. It is hard to do everything perfectly everyday. That's the beauty of a team sport. But once you break everything down throughout the season and get to the end, everything should fall into place.

Another thought on the Iowa State game -- I think it was one of those games you go through with a sick feeling. Things out there just didn't feel right. You can play a game and lose by a basket and still play one of the best games of your life and feel good about it. That wasn't this kind of game. The good thing is we all know we're capable of playing at a much higher level and we just have to come out and do it.

Just as I have goals with basketball, I also have personal goals outside of the sport. I am preparing to graduate in May and get married a month or so before that. I haven't been thinking about graduation that much but I know I have to get through my classes and do well academically. That is no different than any other semester -- it's just that this semester happens to be that last one. I just seem to have so many things going on in my life right now with school, basketball, wedding plans, my family and my personal life. It sounds like a lot, but I think it's a good balance for me right now. At this point, I don't see life slowing down so I just have to keep going.

We have six more home games left and I know there are many more great things that will happen with our team this season.

Go Sooners!

For more on Stacey Dales and the Sooners, visit Oklahoma's official athletic site.